Ribbon-guiding attachment for typewriters



M. F. UMSTEAD RIBBON GUIDING ATTACHMENT FOR \TYPEWRLTERS,

March 13, 1928. 2 L 1,662,220

Filed April 50, 1927 Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

MORRIS F. UMSTEAD, or ALDAN, PENNSYLVANIA.

RIBBON-GUIDING ATTACHMENT FOR 'TYPEWRITERS.

Application filed April 30, 1927. Serial No. 188,022.

This invention relates to ribbon guiding attachments for typewriters and more particularly to a device permitting the ribbon to be adjusted with relation to the type line to such positions that the entire surface of the ribbon may be employedby the use of different adjustments and the entire value of the ribbon thus secured.

As is well known to those familiar with the art, the ordinary ribbon guide of typewriters permits use of the ribbon only in such manner that the type line covers about two-thirds of the area of the ribbon. For this reason, the usable area of the ribbon is destroyed while there is still a large percentage of the ribbon which has not been employed. Furthermore, the concentration of the type line upon this area of the ribbon causes the ribbonto wear much more rapidly if re-inking apparatus is employed thereon.

An important object of the invention is to provide a structure such that the ribbon may be placed in any desired adjusted position with relation to the type line, so that the wear upon the ribbon and the use of ink therefrom is distributed upon the entire surface. i

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be readily attached to the typewriter without in any manner altering the present structure thereof.

These and other objects I attain by the construction: shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation showing a ribbon guiding attachment constructed in accordance with my invention applied to the ribbon carrier of a typewriter; i

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the attachment as applied to the ribbon carrier;

Figure 4 is a view similar to that of F igure 3 showing a modified form of the attachment.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, in which I have illustrated the ribbon carrier or vibrator 10 of a well known make of typewriter, this ribbon carrier ineluding a guiding face 11 having substantially vertically extending arms 12 at its opbon. The other side 16 has mounted thereon i a small rubber tube 17 of such length that it may be slipped uponthe opposed ends of the extensions 13 and of such size that it will bind upon these extensions and frictionally maintain itself against movementeither upon the extensions or upon the sides 16 of the guide loop. It will be obvious that by adjusting this rubber tube upon the extensions 13 and adjusting the sides 16 of the side loop therethrough, the guide loop may assume. any one of a number of different positions and since the ribbon fits therein, will hold the ribbon in any of these adjusted positions. It will thus be possible to so ar range the ribbon that the type of the Inachine (not herein illustrated) will strike either against the lower edge of the ribbon against the upper edge thereof or in any given position between these edges. The opening 15 of the guide loop may be provided in any suitable manner. In the illustration of Figure 3, the arm 14 has a gap produced therein, while in that of Figure 4, the arm 14 is formed in two sections 14 and 14", adjacent ends of which overlap and provide therebetween the opening 15, which is present only when the section 14 is flexed to produce it.

While I have above consistently referred to the element 17 as a rubber tube, this may consist of a metallic sleeve or any other suitable means for securing the loop forming the adjustable guide in position upon the ribbon carrier of the machine. Such a me tallic sleeve might either frictionally engage with the loop or be secured in adjusted positions with relation thereto by a setscrew or other suitable means.

Since the construction described is obviously capable of a certain range of change and modification and must, of necessity, be slightly altered to adapt it to the guides of the ribbon carriers of diflerent typewriters, I do not limit myself to such structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1- 1. The combination with a vibratory typewriter ribbon carrier having guides fixed thereto through which the ribbon passes, of guides for the ribbon separable from the carrier and means for adjustably connecting the last named guides to the fixed guides of the carrier.

2. The combination with a typewriter ribbon carrier having fixed guides each comprising a guiding face provided with substantially vertically extending arms at its opposite ends, the terminal portions of the arms being bent parallel to the guiding face of flattened loops eorrespondii'ig in number to said guides and each having upon one run thereof means for adjustably and frictionally engaging said terminal portions, said loops providing guides for the ribbon.

3. The combination with a typewriter ribbon carrier having fixed guides each comprising a guiding face provided with substantially vertieally extending arms at its opposite ends, the terminal portions of the arms being bent parallel to the guiding face, of flattened loops corresponding in number to said guides and resilient tubes mounted upon one run of each of said loops and adapted for engagement with the terminal portions of the arms of the associated guide, said tubes being adjustable upon said tcr' minal portions.

4. The combination with a typewriter ribbon carrier having fixed guides each comprising a guiding face provided with substantially vertically extending arms at its opposite ends, the terminal portions of the arnis being bent parallel to the guiding face, of flattened loops corresponding in number to said guides andresilient tubes mounted upon one run of each of said loops and adapted for engagement with the terminal portions of the arms of the associated guide, said tubes being adjustable upon said terminal portions, the loops being adjustable through the tubes.

In testimony whereof I hereunto allix my signature.

MORRIS F. UMSTEAD. 

